Love Found Me (A City Love Novel, Book 1)

by Amari, Nina

  Her words were heavy with irritation, as she looked across at him and said, "I mean it. Stay away from me." Danielle stiffened at that moment, just when her white leather ruffled off her shoulders.

  Unfortunately, her mind kept playing all of those moments he'd looked her straight in the eyes-- all she could think of was his boldface deception. She couldn't hold back her frustration. "You hurt me Roman." Her words rang out rough in real-time when she'd bolted her fist at him, but instead it merely skimmed his left shoulder.

  But for the moment, she'd been too angry to just forget what he'd done. She started her words, "I'll never forget..." and then she took a breath to collect herself. "You and your painful honesty," she added. The last syllables trailed a sonnet for a chorus line.

  Even so, Roman still saw the beauty in her whether or not she was scowling. Especially concerning something he'd never gotten the chance to explain.

  He hadn't expected anything different. Not that a man with his reputation should have figured otherwise. But he wasn't about to turn his back on the one woman that saw through his foolish play of hearts-- of a man hiding behind commitment.

  His eyes were steady on hers when he said, "Danielle, it's not what you--"

  Roman was still panting traces of stealthy breaths, when she cut his words saying, "I don't care what you say. I know what I saw."

  Just then, clouds darkened the moon as he straightened against the rigid seat chiseled in the marble. His shadowy gaze struck her like lightning, enabling her to see his face clearly in a glimpse of moonlight's brilliant eye.

  Traitor... The word suddenly came to light, echoing in her mind, along with a frightening sense that he had come to finish the job.

  Danielle fixed serious green eyes on Roman's face when she said, "I saw you with those men--"

  Roman blinked. "Oh," was all he said.

  "You traitor... that's what you are."

  Work wasn't just her life. Work was still ruining her chance at happiness and with the one thing that mattered more than career. In her mind, it wasn't easy forming the balance of love and relationships, especially after what had happened with Roman. But, now she'd needed more time to absolve the heaviness weighing on her heart. Especially now that the one man she'd seen as protector was just a traitor in her eyes.

  Danielle folded her arms, and eased back onto the bench seat. "I have nothing else to say to you. We're through, for good this time."

  Her words sharpened as he drew a tear to his eye because he knew that she loved him. He could tell from the way she'd bit the corner of her lip-- the sensual little way she'd curled her lip into her mouth. Just like their romantic moment at his computer after he'd kissed her.

  Roman saw straight through the anger. It was understandable; he didn't blame her for assuming the worst of him. And he had just realized in those moments alone at the garden, that he didn't want to be alone any longer.

  He was sitting facing her with his arms sprawling the lip of the glowing white onyx that echoed peace, sparkling luxury and most of all-- privacy. It was a quaint cubbyhole, like a secluded seaside floating atop a palace. Sumptuous and relaxing with unspoiled views of black moonlit waters, rippling ribbons of surfing foam. Waves rumbled in harmony. It was the perfect ambiance for a midnight under the stars.

  Roman didn't try to fight it. There were a hundred excuses he could have made, but he couldn't lie to himself any longer.

  Still for Danielle, coming into her own these past couple of years since the engagement -- even if it meant solitude, a table for one, and a lonely pillow-top mattress, was better than being with a no good lying cheater loser.

  Skepticism was beginning to creep its way back to running rampant, but at the moment she was livid that he had the balls to ruffle her feathers with another blatant and outright lie-- She could only surmise just when she'd cut his sentence, he was edging to tell her-- Danielle, it's not what you think.

  Now she felt even sadder, and stranger. Who was he working for and why?

  There was no place he could hide. No way to hide but from himself and the past crashing down around him, ready to ruin the best thing that had ever happened to him.

  Dimly illumed by the star crazed sky, her eyes ladled its flashlight. From his angle, her lashes feathered stardust, and her lips were pout just waiting to be kissed. She looked absolutely stunning in his smoky, dark and deep eyes that smoldered a hunger to taste every last inch of her.

  It was crazy to have to fight for love like this. But no matter how hard he was falling toward meltdown, he bit back the urge suckling his tongue that craved every morsel of her relentlessly intensifying.

  Danielle squirmed, arranging her heels in a more comfortable position in the small center of the mosaic floor. As she fidgeted, she darted her eyes to the starry sky and surrounding barrage of barrel lights clapping a gentle tap against the yacht. She was relieved that this quiet corner was distant enough from the spotlight bridling the day's earlier tension.

  But the rising anxiety facing her wouldn't stop riding her emotions.

  Everywhere she looked, she felt his stare breathe into her. She'd caught more than a few of his surreptitious glances sliding into focus. But she knew that she had no choice but to stay put, or walk right into god knows what danger. Suffering through the scent of clove, cedar wood and exotic vetiver only met her decision that it was worth the gamble not to defy her instinct.

  Roman watched as Danielle's emerald eyes glistened in the moonlight against the sifting clouds. She could feel the soothing breeze sweeping her lashes as it brushed across her white leather. The air felt slightly cool on her exposed shoulders, but she'd hardly even noticed her jacket still draped off her arms, as she took one deep breath and then another to relax herself.

  The glistening onyx couldn't compare to the vibrant woman he couldn't take his eyes off of. The way she was perfectly poised on the marble seat, glimmering a metallic quintessence, only made his heart lust toward a revved-up racecar. It took every ounce of him to steady his control. He'd already denied himself long enough.

  Just then, he shifted as if he might kiss her, but she pulled away before it could land. She looked straight at him, but then he moved back across the opposite edge of the spa, the moment he saw her pout spun her face into adamant stubbornness.

  Danielle turned her attention over his shoulder for a moment. Their quiet haven was ostentatiously roused. Swishing tides climbed toward the skies. Haloing moonlight lit silky streams of chestnut flowing waterfalls of curls against a gentle breeze and an airy calmness that could rock a baby to sleep.

  It wasn't but a few moments later that she'd managed to cool herself down.

  Roman knew hurt and pain still radiated all through her shattered glimpses of him. Even though he was fraught with worry, he couldn't stop wondering-- what would it take to get through to her?

  "Well, this is what you wanted?" he said. She stopped her gaze on the shifting clouds, looking back at him. Quizzically, nothing he'd said made any sense to her. She froze giving him a strange look. Roman forced himself to state the facts. "Revenge," he said. "That's what you wanted isn't it?"

  Danielle arched her back against the tiled rim beading an elaborate mosaic along its sleek edge.

  "That was never--" she hedged, as she fought to suppress her stirring emotions.

  Still sprawled against the marble, Roman had his hands tucked into the pockets of his leather jacket. "You wanted me to run around frantic, worrying about you. Depriving me of those green eyes that hypnotize me out of my mind. You wanted me to suffer big time. My heart can't take any more secrets," he said.

  Her expression didn't change, as she looked straight at him, his stare permeating her flesh. He shored up his courage. He couldn't hold back the secrets eating away at him.

  Roman dropped his chin to his chest and slid his sleeves up. "I just can't do it," he said. The silky black fibers in his sweater tingled in the gentle breeze. There was a gap of silence. And then the next second he lifted
his gaze. "I can't lie to myself. I can't lie to you Danielle."

  There was an awkward moment once his expression turned serious. He didn't know how she'd handle it, but his mind was saying he had to go for it. He had to at least try to settle the heaviness that proved even more difficult than he'd thought it would be-- especially if it meant she'd never want to see him again.

  But then, he belted out something she didn't see coming.

  "Just remember. Everything I do... I do to protect you," he said in a gentler voice. His voice was still gentle when he added, "It's the god's honest truth."

  And then suddenly, his arm rose from the edge of the marble as he lifted his hand to her lips and said, "Trust me." The two whispered words floated between them as his eyes met hers.

  Maybe it was those two words, the same two words she'd placed her faith and belief in a man that brazenly ignored its meaning. Backlash plagued her youth for so long, "I love you" weren't the words any future husband could say easily. He had to show her. Actions speak louder than words.

  She clarified, "Trust you?" Her voice a little gentler, "You want me to trust you?" She shrugged, sending her dark curls roving over her shoulders.

  She'd trusted him with her feelings... with her heart; she wasn't nearly convinced he'd truly meant what he'd told her. And even if she'd believed him, what was to say he hadn't been scheming the ultimate power play.

  But then, a feeling overcame her.

  That Sunday morning when they first met, when Roman found her like some vulnerable woman slumped over the steering wheel-- she worried the moment was weighted in surrealism. Obviously, it all seemed too good to be true, but now she was starting to wonder that maybe she'd been wrong.

  Turning slightly away from him, the sadness in his eyes nearly tore her apart. He looked so sincere, not at all the sly fox she'd had more than a few qualms about.

  She turned and met his gaze again, but she shook her head in warning before he'd even asked the question she saw brimming in his eyes. In his mind, not telling her the truth was the only way to protect her.

  Roman knew Danielle was a defiant woman with a backbone. But he also knew that he had to prove he was ready to give her the kind of love she needed and wanted. Despite how hard it was for him to shun her earlier propositions.

  And judging by the phases of the moon, this was one night it wouldn't be possible for him not to grab hold of her and take her with verve and passion.

  Suddenly, Roman's cavalier ways kicked into high gear. He hadn't felt sated or whole, that is--with a real woman--until he met Danielle.

  His only answer was the tender brush of his hand against her shoulder. He knew she couldn't possibly deny the feelings she had for him.

  Danielle could tell how much Roman wanted to kiss her, but she was still too stubborn to give into his charm. Even though, his heat smoldered her, by every second she'd prolonged. But, she sprung away. Common sense told her, Roman was a stranger. But at the moment, her instinct was immensely brooding toward a sultry volcano.

  Roman watched her trying to collect her thoughts. His hand was still in midair, but then it suddenly slipped to his lap. She tried to convince herself of his sincerity, that her stubborn ways only stood in the way of finding love... that maybe she'd been a fool to walk away. She'd made mistakes before. She'd learned the hard way. Danielle realized she'd have to trust her gut now more than ever-- rather than reasoning with it.

  Instead of waiting for her to shift away again, his words were soft. "I love you," suddenly rang out like a vow of pure passion off his tongue as a whimper escaped her. She'd been brooding in wonder at his aura, but now, his unexpected words of love were mind-blowing and surreal-- absolutely wonderful.

  Danielle knew she'd never seen a smile so full of desire until she looked into his eyes. A slight shiver overcame her when she'd remembered all of those moments he'd had such passionate desire in his eyes before. How could she have lost her focus? How could she have abandoned the one and only man she truly loved?

  She realized she'd been a fool to believe he would harm her-- It must have all been for some reason. She couldn't deny her feelings, and his love that had changed everything.

  Suddenly, a tear trailed down her cheek, as those three little words saturated the depths of her soul. At the last second, she realized he did really and truly love her.

  Her eyes were wide and still full of tears when she felt the heavy warmth of his hand land on her knee, as he cupped his grip and massaged the tautness. She bit her lower lip, watching his strong muscles tingle hers into a reposed blend of jello. And then his hand titillated the flesh through her jeans with more vigor along a sensuous journey up her thigh.

  His fingers felt like blissful paradise-- a bliss she'd never felt before. Her soft tissue quivered the moment he'd poked the sensitive inner hollows, as his hand rose and bowed tenderly, ruffling the denim creases against the rhythm of the waves. Even still, his sentiment rocked tremors of heat through her, kindling the electricity of his touch to shameless territory.

  Fortunately for him, those fingers worked magic... And his dark dreamy eyes had her heart fluttering in her breast, even though she swore-- it was over.

  Somewhere in between her doubts she'd been worried about all the problems that kept popping up one after the other that still held unanswered questions. But, in spite of her feelings, she couldn't help the heat that blurted the words straight from her tongue. He wanted her. And she wanted him-- just the way he was.

  And, in that moment, she met his palm on her thigh. Danielle slid her hand over his softly saying, "I love you too."

  Looking across at him, she basked in his rugged charm, as he became increasingly mesmerized by her impish grin smiling back at him. She was sensually poised, watching his tanned perfection radiating a new deep of bronze.

  A few seconds later, Danielle was sliding closer to him, circling the bench seat until her body kissed alongside his. Roman watched her hands travel a sensual journey up his chest to his face that was still chiseled in overnight's stubble.

  But, yet again, his mouth was begging for a taste of sexy.

  Temptation beckoned him, as he tore his gaze from her hands to the sexy curve of her breasts glinting gold metallic. And then the next second, the tender caress of his fingertip was tracing the soft flesh swelling up over the top hem of her bustier. Danielle loosened a slow moan, as she suckled the intoxicating fragrance of rose petals, mingled with sweet floral musk.

  The very moment her eyes locked into his, Roman slowly lowered her hands from his stubble and then he parted her jacket open. Her gaze never left his even as she felt him roll the white leather down her arms. She was a bit more than eager to speed the process on, when she pulled at the cuffs sloppily until her jacket fell to the pearly floor.

  And then he just paused-- his eyes roved over her slender figure perched like a graceful swan settled on still water.

  His hands swept across her back, impeding any chill that may have crept through to her flesh. But, once his stubble met the warmth of her shoulder, he just couldn't get enough-- his eyes lit into her silken bodice glowing the loveliest sight before his eyes. The way she wore her taut bustier and jeans, she was the glowing vision of a radiant princess-- a woman of inner beauty, sophistication and intelligence.

  Judging by the look in his eyes, he couldn't wait to wrap himself around every last inch of luscious curve, perfectly rounded and smooth in just the right places.

  Danielle watched Roman try to find the words for how beautiful she looked, but he momentarily lost the thought lessened by his desire that was so intense, so overpowering. She noticed his eyes smoldered the same shade of midnight-- deep, dark and mesmerizing. When he smiled, his sexy dimples chiseled a kissable imprint just waiting for her to sink her teeth into.

  What woman could tame herself?

  In those eyes, something was bound to impulse.

  She was threading her fingers through his thick dark hair, her hands so soft, and so gentle, smo
othed the trimmed hair cascading over his forehead. He'd been waiting too long to take hold of the woman's he'd loved. And at this moment, nothing could have stopped him from proving to her, just how much he was in love with her.

  And then the next second, Roman had pulled her body against him. He cupped the nape of her neck, and held her tight to him. Lifting his mouth to hers, his voice sent a shiver up her spine when he said, "Baby, you make me so hot." And then he was kissing her.

  For the first time, she'd known what true love felt like. Jack didn't share the passion, the backbone of respect and honor, nor the guts of a real man who would never know the mistake he made when he was crazy enough to let gorgeous walk out the door. Jack only shattered a heart that would be mended when true love came and found it.

  Which almost made her wonder why she was engaged to such a jerk in the first place. But, that was the old Danielle that was a fool to know any better. The new woman had a sense of hope and a renewed spirit.

  She couldn't deny the warmth that spread all through her when he said, "Danielle, you know how much I love you." He kissed her lips once before saying, "Even before I said a word." Roman tightened his arms around her and pressed another soft kiss that had her submersed in his spicy impulse. "I've loved you ever since the moment I laid eyes on you."

  As he cupped her in his arms, he felt her grin against his dimple. Danielle sucked in a breath so fast, mingling the heady pungency of lavender petals and spiced sandalwood, as her mouth enfolded its masterful intoxication.

  Roman lifted her head to his. "I've always loved you ever since the very beginning." He repeated the sentiment along with a gentle caress smoothing her cheek to her chin and back. Danielle didn't say a word. As his finger slowly traced a path, circling her lips. She'd only looked at him with a slight tear to her eyes.